Water Board Approves Cloud-Seeding Proposal

DENVER -- The Denver Water Board on Wednesday agreed to move forward with a $700,000 cloud-seeding proposal to increase the winter snowpack and relieve the effects of our record drought.

COLORADO'S DROUGHT Water Restrictions By City Reducing Water Use RESOURCES State Drought Info Watering Schedule Adjusting Water Sprinklers Water Tips Gardening During Drought Drought Conditions U.S. Drought Monitor Western Water Supply Forecasts Colorado Reservoir Storage Status Colorado Snowpack Summary Drought FAQ

The proposal means that the number of machines used to seed clouds in Colorado's mountains will now more than double. A private company will be contracted to install 41 additional ground-based generators in five counties that are home to Denver watersheds.

There are currently just 34 generators operating near Vail and in the San Juan Mountains near Lizard Head Pass.

The machines fill passing clouds with silver iodide crystals that bind to water particles, pulling them earthward.

Officials hope other water districts may sign up to help offset the costs.

Denver Water manager Chips Barry said he has contacted 20 to 30 water districts, municipalities and ski areas in the counties, hoping to sign up contributors.

SURVEY Do you approve of Denver Water's decision to buy more generators for cloud seeding? Yes. Anything to help with the drought. No. It is tinkering with Mother Nature. I don't know. Let's see if it actually works. Results  |  Disclaimer

Durango-based Western Weather Consultants, which runs existing cloud-seeding generators, will install and maintain the new machines. They will be placed on private land in Summit, Grand, Park, Gilpin and Jefferson counties, all of which are home to Denver watersheds in the Fraser, Blue and South Platte river basins.

Larry Hjermstad, owner of Western Weather, will call landowners to have them turn on the generators during appropriate weather patterns.

At their best, the machines can cull an extra 10 percent to 20 percent of precipitation from storm clouds, Hjermstad said. The process works best with precipitation-heavy clouds.

Cloud seeding is not new in Colorado. It has been used by governments and ski resorts for decades.

Bill Jensen, head of operations at Vail Mountain, said a recent analysis of the past 16 years of cloud seeding in Vail showed a 15 percent increase in inches of snowfall.

That increase comes while the machines are running. Denver's benefit comes six months later in reservoirs miles away.

"I think it is likely, but not guaranteed, we will get more snow," Barry said. "The situation with the drought is so severe, I am ready to take that risk."